Robin Palmer | |
|---|---|
| Born | Richard Robert Palmer April 7, 1930 Harlem, New York City, USA |
| Died | August 20, 2010 (aged 80) Ithaca, New York, USA |
| Alma mater | Cornell University |
| Organizations | |
| Political party | Youth International Party |
| Spouse | Mimi Melegrito[1] |
| Parents |
|
| Relatives | Laurence Van Winkle Palmer (brother) |
Robin Palmer (born Richard Robert Palmer; April 7, 1930 – August 20, 2010) was an American political activist, television host and producer, and convicted member of the Weather Underground.[2]
Biography edit
Robin Palmer was born in Harlem[3] on April 7, 1930 to palaeontologist Katherine Van Winkle Palmer and educationalist Ephraim Laurence Palmer, both of whom worked as college professors.[4][5][6] Born to politically conservative parents, Robin's father was a supporter of anti-Communist Senator Joseph McCarthy, and their political differences caused a rift to grow between them.[1]
Robin's older brother Laurence, also known as "Punky", contracted a Streptococcus infection at the age of 4, leaving him with severe arthritis until his early death at age 17.[7]
Robin worked as a tree surgeon for most of his life, but also worked for 12 years as a deep sea diver for International Underwater Contractors. He worked as a high school English teacher in Harlem for 6 years, but lost his teaching license after it was discovered that he had simultaneously been moonlighting in pornography; a turn of events covered at the time by Playboy magazine.[1][8]
In October 1967 Palmer participated in the March on the Pentagon which ended in a riot outside the Pentagon. It was here that he became acquainted with Abbie Hoffman who would later lead the Youth International Party, also known as the "Yippies". He would also be involved in the 1968 Columbia University protests, where he began to form a close relationship with Sam Melville. In August, during the 1968 Democratic National Convention protests, Palmer threw a chunk of concrete through a car window.[3]
Palmer joined the Weather Underground in the summer of 1970.[3]
Arson trial edit
Palmer was the leading member of a group of Weathermen who planned - and attempted to carry out - a series of firebombing attacks on various locations in New York City, beginning on the one-year anniversary of the assassination of Fred Hampton by police in Chicago. On December 4, 1970, Palmer and five others were arrested while attempting to firebomb their first target: the First National City Bank at Madison Avenue and 91st Street. New York Police had been made aware of the planned attacks ahead of time by police informant Steve Wiener, and the group had been monitored by police for months leading up to the attempted attack.
On December 9, the conspirators were charged with attempted arson in the first degree, attempted criminal mischief, conspiracy to commit arson, conspiracy to commit criminal mischief, and possession of dangerous instruments. The other five conspirators had their bail set at $50,000 each, but Palmer was also separately charged with being a recruiter for the Weather Underground, and his bail was set at $250,000.[9][10]
Later life edit
After his imprisonment for his role in the Weather Underground arson plot, Palmer's political alignment shifted to the right. While he continued to believe that the United States was in the wrong during the Vietnam War, he would later express support for President George W Bush and the 2003 Iraq War, and in a 2009 incident he threw his shoes at the mayor of Ithaca after the city voted to condemn the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.[11][12][13] He also alienated himself from other left-wing political activists after criticizing Fidel Castro and the Cuban government. He was also a staunch supporter of Israel.[1]
Palmer worked as a local television host and producer for 20 years, and was a Kiwanian during this time. He was also a member of the Tompkins County Veteran's Committee and the Ithaca Gay Men's Chorus (now known as the Ithaca Queer Singers Alliance).[8]
Robin Palmer lived with cancer for 20 years before he died on August 20, 2010 at the age of 80. He was survived by his wife of 21 years, Mimi Melegrito, and his children Christopher, Tina and Cindy.[14] His wife Mimi served as the first female President of the Ithaca Kiwanis, and as Charter President of Cayuga Kiwanis.[15]
References edit
- ^ a b c d Hoffmannstahl, Carola Von (October 18, 2010). "Robin Palmer: Weatherman Yippie Right Wing Rebel Forever". opednews.com. OpEdNews. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
- ^ "Alumni Deaths". Cornell Alumni Magazine. Vol. 113, no. 6. May 2011. p. 95. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
- ^ a b c Viola Jr., David C. (2017). Terrorism and the Response to Terrorism in New York City During the Long Sixties (PhD thesis). CUNY. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
- ^ "205 Oak Hill Road". cayugaheightshistory.org. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
- ^ "Ephraim Laurence Palmer : July 8, 1888 — December 18, 1970". ecommons.cornell.edu. Cornell University. 1970. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
- ^ "Ephraim Laurence Palmer". Science Education. 47 (3): 209–220. April 1963. doi:10.1002/sce.3730470302. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
- ^ Brice, William R. (August 2020). "The Lady and Her Fossils: Katherine Van Winkle Palmer (1895–1982)" (PDF). rock.geosociety.org. GSA Today. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
- ^ a b "Robin Palmer Obituary (2010)". legacy.com. August 25, 2010. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
- ^ Montgomery, Paul L. (December 5, 1970). "6 Identified as Weathermen Seized in an Attempt to Bomb Bank Here". New York Times. p. 1. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
- ^ Eastland JO, et al. (January 30, 1975). The Weather Underground : Report of the Subcommittee to Investigate the Administration of the Internal Security Act and Other Internal Security Laws of the Committee of the Judiciary (PDF) (Report). United States Senate, Ninety-Fourth Congress, First Session. p. 82. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
- ^ Harper, Jennifer (February 6, 2009). "Soleless protesters toss shoes". The Washington Times. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
- ^ Dastgir, Donial (February 6, 2009). "Ithacan Throws Shoes at Mayor in Protest of Common Council". The Cornell Daily Sun. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
- ^ Stratford, Michael (February 10, 2009). "Shoe-Throwing Incident at Common Council Meeting Draws Attention to Security in City Hall". The Cornell Daily Sun. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
- ^ Huddle, Gay. "Filipino veterans recognized for World War II service". eu.ithacajournal.com. Ithaca Journal. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
- ^ "Lt. Governor Melegrito Receives the Hixson Fellowship Award" (PDF). Empire State Kiwanian. February 2006. Retrieved May 14, 2024.